The West El-Hussaq Fiasco
Technicalities and Indecision Cause Uncertainty over El-Hussaqi Future

As the world recoiled from the shock of the lightning-fast Nexus occupation of El-Hussaq, President El Cid II received word from the Prime Chancellor of Marcusburg that the Platinum Nexus would allow him to propose several political arrangements. Should the Nexus agree to such a proposal before April 9, 2001, West El-Hussaq would stave off annexation.

The proposals quickly became prolonged and protracted negotiations. President El Cid II demanded the full restoration of West El-Hussaq and a prompt return of the El-Hussaqi treasury. The Nexus, however, argued for security guarantees from El Cid II in the future. As well, Nexus hardliners demanded a share of land and money in order to compensate former El-Hussaqi victims - Steldorado and Noe - for the aggression they suffered in the past.

Negotiations proceeded slowly and fell apart at various occasions. Meanwhile, El-Hussaq rejoined the Phoenix Confederacy as the Nexus incursion into El-Hussaq bolstered the unity of that organization. At one point, the Supreme Viceroy of Lindsholm gave El-Hussaq the option of abolishing either the military or the conscripts. The Lindsholm proposal outraged the Ethnarch of Rattanjeetland, who then took on a personal role in negotiations.

On April 4, 2001, Marcusburg intelligence officers intercepted plans by El Cid II to abdicate following a declaration of war on the Nexus. When confronted with the scheme, El Cid II denied its existence and the action did not occur. Many believe that although he wanted to partition his state to the Confederacy, President El Cid II's miscalculation that the Nexus would honor his last wishes forced him to reconsider the scheme.

Subsequently, El-Hussaq returned to the negotiating table and while talk about security guarantees progressed nicely, both sides were at a standstill in regards to land and money. An impasse formed as the annexation deadline loomed. One hour before annexation on April 9, 2001, the Ethnarch of Rattanjeetland and the Prime Chancellor of Marcusburg reached agreement on a deal pertaining to the restoration of West El-Hussaq.

However, when El Cid II received word of the agreement, he rejected the legitimacy of Rattanjeetland bargaining on its behalf. Instead, he proposed his own 'final offer', which was voted upon by the Platinum Nexus and promptly rejected. Negotiations then fell apart and the Nexus annexed West El-Hussaq as a jointly administered territory between Gorditas, Lindsholm, and Marcusburg. However, only two hours after the deadline passed, El Cid II changed his mind and accepted the legitimacy of Rattanjeetland bargaining on its behalf, in effect accepting the agreement negotiated between Marcusburg and Rattanjeetland.

Although the Marcusburg Foreign Office began the paperwork for the "Agreement of Brumaire", as the West El-Hussaqi restoration was to be called, the Platinum Nexus had yet to vote on the deal negotiated between Marcusburg and Rattanjeetland. In a leak to the press, an insider within the Foreign Office admitted that Marcusburg had "jumped the gun and miscalculated in assuming the support of its allies over the deal struck between the Prime Chancellor and the Ethnarch". Until Nexus heads of state formally vote, the multilateral force occupying West El-Hussaq will remain.